Elisa Balsamo, the Italian sprinter from Lidl-Trek, is set to make a remarkable return to competition just over a month after her severe crash in the Vuelta a Burgos. The incident saw Balsamo hit the barriers hard, resulting in a broken nose, broken second metacarpal and a concussion. Now, she is eager to pin on her race number once more and compete in the Italian National Championships.
Balsamo shared her excitement on social media, stating, โIโve received the news Iโve been waiting for from the doctors: I can race again. Iโm very enthusiastic, and despite my condition still developing, I want to pin on my race number this Saturday at the Italian road championship.โ
The 26-year-old has ample time to prepare for her major targets later in the year, including the Olympics and the Tour de France Femmes, which are scheduled for late July and August respectively. “There is still work to be done,” she admitted. “But this is a new beginning. I feel very happy with all the professionals by my side who have made this quick comeback possible.”